BSF Genesis: Week 11, Day 3

5.
a.
Make you into a great nation, bless you, make your name great, you will be a blessing, bless those who bless you, curse those who curse you, all people on earth will be bless through you.

b.
1. Nation of Israel, 2. Given a son in his old age, 3. Credited with righteousness (Rom 4), 4. Abraham saves Lot from capture 5. Joseph saved Egypt from drought, 6. Egypt’s losses through the plagues in Exodus, 7. Romans 9 – Promise through Jesus to all who are children of the promise through faith in God

6.

blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ

the hope to which he has called you, riches of his glorious inheritance, holy people

raised up with Christ, seated in the heavenly realms in Christ, riches of grace, kindness

God’s promise to bless those who we bless comes up not only here for Abraham and his descendants, but also in the beatitudes that Christ preached. I pray for others. I teach others, particularly children. I strive to live a life that reflects Christ’s love. But I don’t spend much time thinking about how I can bless others.

I think it may be because, in comparison to the power and wisdom that I know God has, my words and actions seem so insignificant. I end up standing back and, in prayer, try to direct God to all the places I think he should lead and go and pour out His power. But that isn’t what this says, is it. In these promises, God calls on us to put ourselves into the game. Does that mean I am any bigger or God is any smaller, of course not. But it means I’m engaged in the blessing. And when I engage, God magnifies.

So, who can I bless? Who can I send a card of encouragement to? Who can I buy a meal or cup of coffee for? Who can I call? Who can I smile at? Who can I share a word about the joy of the Lord with? I’m looking forward to see what God does.